Washer



S. SCHNELL Nov 4, 1941.

WASHER Filed May 31, 1940 FIG.2.

INVENTOR EVE SCHNELL BY g ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1941 WASHER Steve Schnell, Overland, Mo.,assignor to Wagner Electric -Corporation,

tion of Delaware St. Louis, Mo., a, corpora- Application May 31, 1940, Serial N0. 338,144

' 4 Claims. (GI. 85-51) My invention relates to locking means and more particularly to a locking washer for coopieration with a groove on a shaft, pin or other memher.

Among the objects of my invention are I:o produc-e an improved locking washer of the C" type which can be cheaply manufactured, easily installed by a simple tool so as 1:0 surround and grip the base of the groove in the member upon which it is positioned, and also readily removed when necessary.

.Other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection With the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved washer; Figure 2 is a view showing the washer in position prior to being deformed by a suitable tool and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the washer installed.

Referring 130 the drawing in detail and particularly to Figure 1, the washer I is of general U-shape having a base portion 2 and legs 3 and 4. The inner edge 5 of the base portion is semicircular and the inner edges 6 and I of the legs form extensions of the edge 5. The edges 6 and I are parallel with each other and spaced apart the same distance as the diameter of the circle of which the edge 5 is a part. The outer edges 8 and 9 of the legs adjacent their ends are fiared so as to be at an acute angle to the inner edges 6 and l, thus making the ends of the legs somewhat wedge-shaped. The washer is stamped out of sheet metal to the form shown in Figure 1, the metal being deformable under press'ure.

In Figures 2 and 3 I have shown how my washer may be installed on a grooved pin or shaft to hold a member in position on said pin or shaft or hold said pin er shaft from longitudinal movement relative to a. fixed member. The pin or shaft. I0 is provided with an annular groove II, 40

the bottom surface of which has the same radiils- 01" curvature as the semi-circular edge 5 of the washer. The tool I2 for installing the washer is shown as one in which there is provided a U shaped cut-out forming legs I3 and I4 having which is equal to the distahce betwe'en the unter edges of the legs of the "C washer at a point just rearwardl'y of the flared edges 8 and 9.

parallel surfaces I5 and I6, the 'distance between T0 install the washer it is positioned in the groove, then the tool I2 is positioned so that the U shaped cut-out receives the base portion 2. Force is now applied to the t0ol to rnove the legs I3 and I4 forwardly and cause thein deform the ends 3 and 4 0f the legs of the washer inwardly toward each other by acting on the flared edges 8 and 9. As the tool is moved forwardly to a point where the ends cf the leg"s I3 and I4 thereof reach the ends of the legs of the washer the edges 8 and 9 will be caused I:o be parallel with each other and the inner edges of the endS of the legs of the washer will be deformed and forced into the gr0ove II as shown.in Figure 3. The washer will now be wrapped around the base of the groove of the shaft and will be maintained in opetative position since the distance between the ends of the legs is considerably less than the diameter'of the bottom of the groo've. During installation the base p0rtion 2 of the washer will be heldin engagement with the bottom of the groove since the legs of the tool acting an the surface 8 and 9 produce a force acting in the proper direction. The construction of the washer and the meth0d of installation insures that the washer will tightly grip the base surface 01 the grodve over substantially two hundred and forty degrees.

When it is desired to remoVe the washer a force can be applied to both ends of the legs of the washer by a suitable tool and in a direction toward the pin or Shaft, thus spreading the legs back into their original position as the washer is forced out of the groove.

Being aware of the possibility of modification in the particular structure herein described without departing -from the fundamental principles of my invention, I do-not intend that its scope be limited except es set forth by the annended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I clairn as new and deslreto secure by Letters Patent of the United Stabes is:

1. A locking washer for cooperation with a pin, shaft or like element comprising a generally U-shaped fiat member of deformable material having a semi-circular base portlon and forwardly extending legs, the inner radius of said base being substantially the same as the pbrtion of the element said washer is 'to surround and the 'ends of said legs being wedge'-shaped with the inner edges thereof parallel and the outer enges diverging in the direction ofthe ends of the legs, whereby the washer may be attached to the element by simultaneously deforming the legs only and in such a manner that the outer edges are caused to be substantially parallel.

2. A locking washer for cooperation with a pin, shaft or like element comprising a generally U-shaped flat member of deformable material' wardly extending legs, the inner radius of said base being substantially the same as the portion 01' the element sa.id washer is to surround and the inner edges of the legs being parallel and tangent to the inne r semi-clrcular edge of the base portion and the outer edges of the Iegs adjacent their ends being provided with surfaces whlch when acted. upon by fixed spaced apart portions of a tool after sa1d washer is placed on the portion of the element so that; the base portion engages the portion of the element the washer is to surround and as a result of said tool being moved from the base portion toward the ends of the legs, will cause the ends of -the legs only 120 be deiormed and m0ved toward each other.

3. A locking washer for cooperation with a pin,

shaft or like element comprising a generally ment so thal: the base portion engages the portion of the element the washer is to surround the ends only of the legs may be forced inwardly toward each other and around the element by fixed spaced apart portlons on a tool by moving the portions cf said tool in a direction from the base portion toward the ends of the legs.

4. A -locking washer for cooperation wlth a pin, shaft or like element cornprising a generally U-shaped fiat member of deformable material having the inner edge of its base portion semicircular wlth a radius substantially the same as the radius of the portion of the elcment wiih which lt is adapte'd to cooperate, t1le inner edges of said legs parallel, and the unter edges of said legs diverglng toward the ends of the, legs from points acljacent the base portion, whereby when the washer is placed on the portion 0f tbe element so that the base portion engages the per tion of the element the washer is to surrouncl the ends only of the legs may be forced inwardly toward each other by fixed spaced apart; portlons of a tool coo'perating with the diverging edges and causing said diverging edges to become substantially parallel.

STEVE SCHNELL. 

